During the recent launch of Administration’s Media Information Literacy (MIL) campaign project, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. tasked various government agencies to work together to address the issue of disinformation and misinformation in the country.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reiterated the role of the agency in the said project.

“Kami, like all the government agencies that signed the memorandum of agreement, we will make sure that we use all our media channels para masigurado namin na up to date iyong impormasyon at credible iyong impormasyon na aming pinu-publish,” Gatchalian said.

“It’s a matter of constantly communicating,” Gatchalian added as he acknowledged that one of DSWD’s mandates is the timely dissemination of information of their programs for their beneficiaries.

“So, we have to make sure that, one, we circulate the right channels ‘di ba? But more than anything those right channels should bear the right information in a very timely manner,” he said.

The DSWD Secretary also recognized the responsibility of their agency in being disciplined in this matter due to the multiple programs they are implementing for families in need.

The DSWD credits the timely dissemination of credible information to be helpful in preventing the spread of fake news, especially to their social program beneficiaries.

The DSWD is tasked to incorporate the MIL campaign in its social protection programs, provide support for the conduct of trainings related to the project in targeted communities and assistance in disseminating MIL information materials. PND